Maria Sharapova, Russian born, but thoroughly Americanized, can be both beautiful and fierce. Novak Djokovic of Serbia can be charming and fighting mad. These traits were on display on day eight of the 2012 Australian Open, as Sharapova needed three sets to defeat Sabine Lisicki of Germany, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Djokovic needed four sets to defeat the always scrappy Australian veteran of the tour Lleyton Hewitt, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams of the United States of America, star of the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis, and who often wins the big ones while playing less and living more, came up against a dose of reality as Serena went down to the 56th ranked Russian with the wonderful name that sounds like a dance craze, Ekaternia Makarova, 2-6, 3-6. The rust in Williams’ game showed as she admitted after the match, saying "I made 37 errors. That kind of tells the story of the match."
The quarter finals are up next. The men’s will feature Djokovic versus David Ferrer of Spain; Andy Murray of Britain versus Kei Nishikori of Japan; Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina versus Roger Federer of Switzerland; Tomas Berdych, Chech Republic versus Rafael Nadal, Spain.
For the women it will be Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Kim Clijsters of Belgium; Victoria Azarenka, Belarus and Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland; Sharapova and Makarova; and Sara Errani of Italy and Petra Kvitova, Chech Republic.
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